ferris



R. M. FBRRIS. FLUTE AND VIOL DARMOUR ATTACHMENT.

Patented Dec. 16, 1851.

UNITED STATES PA:1ENT ()FFICE.

RICHARD M. FERRIS,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINING ORGANS AND PIANOFORTES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 8,587. dated December 16. 1851.

reference being had to the accompanying 1 drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

The nature of my invention which relates to the combination of certainor all of the tubes of the organ with the pianoforte, consists, not inthe said combination, but in the manner of efiecting it, so that eitherthe pianoforte, or organ can be played separately, both at the same timeby the same set of keys, or one by one hand, and the otherby the otherhand of the player, each being provided with a separate set of keys, andeither set being capable of being coupled with the other set so as to beoperated at the same time.

It also consists in the employment of a set of pedals for operating oncertain or all of the piano-strings and organ pallets; the said pedalsare capable of being coupled with either the organ or piano keys, orboth. or uncoupled altogether.

The objects desired to be obtained in my improved attachment are that ofuniting moreof the power of the two instruments than has been done inany former combination of the pianoforte and organ, also that ofbringing both more perfectly under the control of the player.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed, with the aid of the drawings to describe fully its constructionand operation.

Figure 1, in the drawings represents a transverse vertical section of anupright pianoforte, in which my attachment is fitted, all the parts areshown uncoupled, that is the pianoforte and organ keys are independentof each other and the pedal uncoupled from both. Fig. 2, exhibits allthe playing parts shown in Fig. 1, but the pianofort-e and organ keysare coupled so that both are played by the pianoforte keys. Fig. 3, is asimilar view to Fig. 2, but the two sets of keys are coupled so as to beboth played by the organ keys. Fig. 4, is a similar view to Figs. 2, and3, but showing all .the couplings in action those of the'pedal as wellas those of the two sets of keys.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of theseveral figures.

A, shown only in Fig. 1, represents the sounding board of thepianoforte, and B, one of the strings.

C, D, and E, represent one of each of three different sets oforganpipes.

F, is the wind chest; Gris one of the pallets and 9, its closing spring.

H, is the bellows, I, its feeder and J, the passage leading to the windchest.

K, is one of the striking hammers of the pianoforte; L the key, M, therod communieating between the hammer and key, and k, the spring fordrawing back the hammer I after striking.

N, is one of the organ keys, it communicates with the pallet G, by meansof rods a, 7), 0, (Z, a lever e, and squares f.

P, is one of the pianoforte and organ couplers for connecting the organkeys with the pianoforte keys in such a manner that both the pianoforteand organ can be played by i the pianoforte keys. It consists of a smallbar or rod hung on a pin at the back end of the pianoforte key andprovided with a catch at its lower end which catches under the end i ofthe organ key as shown in Figs. 2, and 4, .and causes it to be raisedwith the pianoforte key, it is provided with a small spring (1, at theback to keep it in connection, and is thrown back or uncoupled, as shownin Figs. 1 and 3, when not required to be used,

' by a small eccentric bar h, which turns on a pin 11; this bar and pinextend the whole width of the instrument to allow all the couplers P, tobe thrown back at once.

0, is one of the organ and pianoforte couplers for connecting thepianoforte keys with the organ keys in such a manner that both thepianoforte and organ can be played by the organ keys. It consists of asmall upright lifter attached by a pin to a butt p, secured on the upperside of the back end of the organ key; its upper end or point bears asshown in Figs. 3 and 4, under a projection Z, on the lower side of thepianoforte key, and lifts it when the organ key is actuated.

An eccentric bar 7', on a pin is, similar to h, i, is placed in front ofthe lifter to throw it back clear of the projection l, or uncouple itwhen not in use as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A spring m, is placed at the back of O, to throw it in position foroperating when the pressure of the eccentric bar is removed.

Q, is one of the pedals for operating the keys by the feet, connectingby a rod n, to the front end of a lever B, termed a backfall, hung on apin 0. Below the pedal is a spring S, which raises it after the pressureof the foot is removed.

T, is one of the edals and pianoforte couplers for connecting thepianoforte or certain notes of it with the pedals. It consists of anupright lifter attached by a pin to the back end of the lever or backfall R, and passes through a slot 1-, seen in Figs. 3 and 4, in the oran key which is large enough to admit 0 its working, its upper end bearswhen in use as shown in Fig. 4, under a projection 8, under thepianoforte key, and raises it so as to actuate the hammer when the pedalis depressed. It is thrown back clear of the projection when not in useas shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, by an eccentric bar t, turning on a pin a,and is thrown and kept up to the bar or to its work by a small spring a.

V, is one of the pedal and piano-couplers for connecting the organ orcertain keys or notes of it with the pedals. It consists of a smalllifter attached to the lever B, and bears when in use under the organkey as shown in Fig. 4, and raises it to open the allet G, every timethe pedal is depressed.

t is thrown back when not in use, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, by aneccentric bar w, turning on a pin a, so that when the pedal is workedthe coupler passes into the slot 4". It is kept to its place b a springy.

The most distinguis ed characteristic of this attachment is, that themelody may be played on either part of the instrument and theaccompaniment to produce the harmony on the other part, by having thekeys uncoupled and playing on one set with each hand. The pedals may bealso brought into action at the same time to produce any of the notes ineither or both parts of the instrument, at the same time that they arebeing layed separately by the two hands.

Bot parts of the instrument may be played at once by either set of keys,and in 'of an organ with a that case certain of the notes on either orboth parts may be played as an accompaniment by the pedals.

It is not absolutely necessary that the two couplers O, and P, should beused in the same instrument, as either connects the two sets of keys,but if there are two couplers, either set of keys may be used, at theoption of the player.

The striking action employed for the pianoforte, may be any that may beconsidered best by the manufacturer. The arrangement of the organ hereinshown and the manner of connectin the keys with the pallets may bevaried, ut the manner of aranging and connecting shown is such as willconfine the instrument in the smallest space; and it may be seen thatthe whole ex ternal dimensions will be but little more than those of acommon upright pianoforte,

'its depth being only slightly increased and its other dimensions notbeing at all exceeded.

I do not claim combining the organ and pianoforte irrespective of themanner in which the combination is formed, but

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-,1. The whole or an number of the tubes istinct set of keys, incombination with a pianoforte having its own proper set of keys in sucha manner that either the pianoforte or organ can be played separately orboth at the same time by the two sets of keys, or both coupled andplayed by one set of keys, by means of couplers P, or O, and eccentricbars h, j, or

other equivalent devices, substantiallyv as herein described.

2. Coupling either or both the organ and piano with a pedal action, R,n, Q, and uncoupling them from it by means of couplers T, V, acting onthe keys, and eccentric bars t, w, or their equivalents so that eitherthe organ or pianoforte or both, can be played upon by the pedalssubstantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before twosubscribing witnesses this 11th day of June, 1851.

RICHARD M. F ERRIS. Witnesses:

O. D. MUNN, R. W. FENWICK.

